HELP - how do you keep these damn eels from tangling my line!

[ThrowingTimber]

Give em what they want

[Jim H]

OK

I think the problem is I am letting the eel sit too long...not reeling in slowly the whole time after a cast.

Also saw suggestions of throwing them at rocks - I've been mostly drifting/reeling them on Joppa Flats. I assume that should work too (right).

Whack or not to whack....that is the question. Sounds like both will work.

I'll try both methods next time out.

Thanks again for the help (and laughs!)

[eelman]

Drifting eels works great just keep in touch with your line, also, in a deep water drift use a rubber core sinker...........

[zacs]

Jim,
I think my post got burried in there somehwere.
Drifting eels is fine. YOu don't have to reel them in. I do it all the time in my boat and they hardly ever tangle. Threeway is fine too without reeling. I put 'em on the bottom with 4 oz. of lead and never have any problems. I will dead stick a couple at lunch time and rarely have any problems w/ tangles.

Are you using a swivel? Is it a good one? What kind of line do you use? what kind of leader material and what kind of hook.

If the bite isn't on, I can drift an eel for an hour without a tangle. Tell us about your setup.

_Z_

[Jim H]

Originally Posted by zacs

Jim,
Are you using a swivel? Is it a good one? What kind of line do you use? what kind of leader material and what kind of hook.

If the bite isn't on, I can drift an eel for an hour without a tangle. Tell us about your setup.

_Z_

I am using 20lb fireline with a slider fish finder rig(one with plastic sleeve and metal clip) to hold a small 2 oz bank sinker. Tie snap swivel ("decent" bass-pro shops one) to the fireline. Using about 2 ft of 20lb test mono as a leader. Tie a small loop in one end (and connect to swivel) and tie the 5/0 bait hook to the other end.

What is happening is the eel wraps up all around the leader by doing that awful slithering twisting routine.......but it happens after my cast and not before. I grab em with a rag, shove the hook from under the throat up and out one eye. IMMEDIATELY throw in the water.....then lift up and quickly cast out.

I feel the eel swimming around....pulling....then NOTHING.....when I reel in....he's in a ball...all tangled in the leader. Throw him back on ice where the slime coating turns milky white and solidifies on leader hook swivel....YUCK

It has happened both when I toss him out and slowly reel in AND when just letting it sit there on the bottom. I have been anchored or from my dock - not drifting.

[CAL]

Never fish eels with a fishfinder setup like you're fishing a chunk. Instant eelball.
Never just let them sit down there, reel them in.
If you gotta get them down try stuffing an egg sinker in their mouth.

[zacs]

I have never used a fishfinder for an eel, so maybe thats the problem. I either just drift them with no weight [swivel to leader to hook], or use a 3 way swivel, and hang weight off one hole and the leader, usually a few feet, and send them to send them to the bottom. I rarely anchor, and I can't remeber if I have drifted eels w/o weight, but I have 3-way'ed em at anchor without problem.

Unlike people keep insisting, you do not need to reel them in constantly when in a boat, although you can with success.